Letter from Marisa Salvino

Dear Sisters:

One of my biggest fears has been the unknown, and while preparing to leave for college, I found myself struggling to understand what I was called to do. I prayed and prayed, asking God, selfishly, to just show me a sign. I wanted some big lightning bolt answer as to where, how, and what I should be doing with this short span in the infinite loop of time I’m gifted with. However, no matter how hard I prayed, it always felt like I never got the answer I was longing for.

However, God had a plan for me, just like He has one for you. My senior year of high school, God showed me how I am designed for love and relationship. During spring break, I went to Honduras on a mission trip. I was about to embark on a journey that would not only show me a clearer path for my future, but also what God has been calling me to do all my life.

While looking out the small airplane window, hovering over Tegucigalpa, Honduras, I had no idea what kind of ride I was about to encounter. All I could see were mountains and a clear blue sky, so naturally, I begin to feel excitement, anticipation, and fear. Once we’d landed, gotten our belongings, and made it through Customs, we were greeted by a small woman with a giant flower in her hair, and a smile on her face surrounded by the rosiest lipstick I have ever seen. Without even knowing who I was, she embraced me with a hug and a kiss. She directed us toward a bus outside, so the group of students and I headed out to begin the next part of our journey.

Once the bus was loaded, we began our drive to the orphanage we would be spending the next several days working in. Along the sides of the road, I was overwhelmed by the signs of poverty. Garbage lined the streets. Young mothers carried their newborns home, and children walked through the streets wearing dirty, raggedy clothes with shoes too small for their feet. Shacks surrounded the mountainside in all different colors, looking so worn out that a simple gust of wind could easily knock them over. However, through this illustration of pain, there was also a sense of beauty overwhelming the city. The mountains towered in the distance, the sun radiated a warm and inviting culture, and the people glowed powerful smiles, showcasing strength among atrocity. Little did I know how much this experience would change my life forever.

We finally arrived at the orphanage where we were greeted by children running around the compound, excited to see new, friendly faces. Each day, we worked on restoration projects around the compound. These tasks ranged from painting, mending roofs, building walls, mixing concrete, and laying sidewalks. Mae, the lady who runs the orphanage, and was the one to welcome us at the airport, was always the first to greet us each morning with, “Buenos días mis niños.” She always had a smile on her face and gave boundless hugs and kisses.

We worked five hours a day, and the remaining time was playtime with the kids. Walking around the homes, I usually could find children running, playing tag, swinging on swings, sliding down slides, hugging, laughing, smiling, loving. While playing with the children, I became very close to one boy in particular, named Darwin. His big smile and pure laugh, along with his mischievous antics, presented joy that I hadn’t seen in a long time. This eight-year-old orphan was happier than any kid I had ever met. Every morning, he would run up to me at the gate wearing his school uniform, and I would give him a piggy-back ride to school. After school, he would greet me on the playground with a hug, and we’d venture toward the swings. When it was time for me to leave for dinner, he would say, “Adios, ‘miga. Te amo,” and give me a big hug and kiss.

About halfway through the trip, Mae decided to arrange a movie night for the children. At this point, I was slowly realizing the sense of community found in this poor, Honduran orphanage. However, it wasn’t until this night that my mind and heart were completely opened to the endless love found in each of these children’s hearts. The featured film was Coco, but it wasn’t the film that caught my heart; it was Darwin’s interaction with me. He sat on my lap, his head lying on my chest, and slowly began to fall asleep. Watching this child slowly drift into a peaceful sleep made me appreciate this community and the love they possess. What I may have originally seen before coming to this trip was a poor, young boy, lacking the necessities he deserves as a human being, and needing a better quality of life. But in this moment, after living with him for a few days and seeing his heart open to me, I realized this wasn’t true at all. Yes, he was a poor orphan, but he possessed more in his heart than I ever did. He loved without fear and showed that true happiness is found in the relationships we share, not in what we possess. These children here were helping me more than I could ever help them. They were rich in spiritual wealth, which was a powerful realization for me.

In that very moment, as Darwin laid there asleep on my lap, it was as if God was saying, “Hey you, this is that lightning bolt moment you’ve been waiting for.” I had never felt such overwhelming love in all of my life. God is, was, and always will be perfect love, and in this moment, I was experiencing his love and realized that this is what I am called to do: love.

When the week ended and it was time to return home, the goodbyes were the hardest words I have ever had to say. Hugging Darwin and telling him that I loved him and would see him again soon broke my heart. Darwin’s “boo-boo lip” brought tears to my eyes, but hearing him say, “Hasta luego,” showed the love and hope he also encompassed. He taught me what matters in life: love and human connection.

Upon returning home, I did a lot of reflecting on this trip and why God called me there. And I realized that God doesn’t always give us the answers to our prayers in simple terms. At some times, I’m still confused as to what my calling might me. But through this experience, through God’s love, and through the sense of community I found in Honduras, I’ve learned that I am called to simply love my neighbors. Yes, I’m still unsure of what career I should pursue, but I’ve learned that if I love the people right in front of me and treat them with kindness, God will provide the rest. I simply have to trust in Him and value the human connection Darwin showed me.

God, and this experience, led me to an understanding that my identity as a woman is far above what career, major, or field I pursue. It is simply love. My identity is found in the Creator, who led me to these relationships and brought these people into my heart. As a woman, my identity is above this world and in Him. I am a woman who pursues my values, who wants to spread love and peace. This cannot simply be labeled by my career or other worldly titles, but instead in the ways I interact and love others, just as Christ loves us.

So sisters, whatever season you’re in, whatever you’re struggling with, know that I’m with you in your state of confusion and frustration, and God is too. He walks alongside you and He knows your pain. He has a plan for all of us, but if we simply live in this season, do our best, and love one another, God will provide. Let go and let God.

Yours in Christ,

Marisa